(03-21-2024, 03:02 AM)Bouki Wrote: Garibaldi Hard Soap (Abbate y La Mantia) tame tobacco
Shave 1
There aren’t many monumental surprises in the world of wet shaving. Most of us go about our daily routine making minuscule alterations to our kit or our technique and hope for the best. But every now and then, a small change ushers in vast improvements that rewire our approach to hair removal. Today, I had two such epiphanies.
First, following HoosierShave’s advice, I put an Astra Superior Platinum blade into my Overlander razor. What was once a grating sort of shaver now became one of the smoothest operators in my stable, second only to Lambda’s Athena. After only two passes my face was as smooth as marble, and seven hours later, it’s still as slick as it was after the last rinse. Many thanks to the man from Indiana, who just saved this razor from the BST.
Second, I used an alum block for the first time. A long time ago I heard that these stones could burn the skin, so I shied away from them. But a friend at work recommended I try one. He said it helped him keep irritation at bay. I gave it a whirl, and I was flabbergasted. The salty stone brought on no burn at all. Instead it had a soothing, very clean sensation. I admit, it was drying, and it didn’t taste too good, but it seemed to prep the skin for the Ethos serum and lotion that followed.
Oh, and today's soap? A nice, sweet, caramel tobacco that smelled more like café au lait than a cigar. All in all, a superb shave. I hope yours was just as splendid.
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Preshave Ethos First Lather ・ Brush Plisson Cade (17) ・ Razor Karve SS Overlander (3) ・ Blade Astra Superior Platinum (1)
That's great to hear Bouki! It will be interesting to hear how well the SS Overlander performs with your preferred blade.
BTW, 2nd only to the Athena???? I may have to put that one on my watchlist
Agrumes-Vétyver (Martin de Candre) a 3017 odyssey
Shave 51
Last December I set out on a shave odyssey. My goal was to use this one soap until it was gone. I loved the scent – a mixture of Martin de Candre Vétyver and Agrumes – and the performance was stellar. But as the holidays rolled around I lost my way. The soap went back in its box. I felt sort of guilty for having jumped ship, but then I remembered that even Ulysses took a break from rowing every now and then. So now I’m picking up my paddle again.
Today I decided to take my bearings, a task I should have done at the outset of this journey. First, I emptied the jar of Agrumes-Vétyver, removing every last bit of soap. Next, I measured the weight of the vacant jar and its lid: 159 grams. After that, I kneaded the soap to ensure a thorough blend of the vetiver and citrus scents. The final step involved weighing the soap by itself: 247 grams. That represents just over a year’s supply of shaves.
I’ve got a brush I love, a razor I’m learning to love, a blade that works fine and dandy, and a fat tub of remarkable soap. Tie me to the mast!
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Brush Plisson Cade (18) ・ Razor Karve SS Overlander (4) ・ Blade Astra Superior Platinum (2)
Shave 51
Last December I set out on a shave odyssey. My goal was to use this one soap until it was gone. I loved the scent – a mixture of Martin de Candre Vétyver and Agrumes – and the performance was stellar. But as the holidays rolled around I lost my way. The soap went back in its box. I felt sort of guilty for having jumped ship, but then I remembered that even Ulysses took a break from rowing every now and then. So now I’m picking up my paddle again.
Today I decided to take my bearings, a task I should have done at the outset of this journey. First, I emptied the jar of Agrumes-Vétyver, removing every last bit of soap. Next, I measured the weight of the vacant jar and its lid: 159 grams. After that, I kneaded the soap to ensure a thorough blend of the vetiver and citrus scents. The final step involved weighing the soap by itself: 247 grams. That represents just over a year’s supply of shaves.
I’ve got a brush I love, a razor I’m learning to love, a blade that works fine and dandy, and a fat tub of remarkable soap. Tie me to the mast!
____________
Brush Plisson Cade (18) ・ Razor Karve SS Overlander (4) ・ Blade Astra Superior Platinum (2)
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